| Elon Phoenix (7-3-2, 0-1-1 CAA) at Towson Tigers (3-6-2, 0-1-0 CAA) |
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| Elon Phoenix (7-3-2) at Col. of Charleston Cougars (5-4-0) |
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| Notes and Social Media Coverage |
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ELON, N.C. – After picking up a point during the first week of conference play, the Elon University women's soccer team continues Colonial Athletic Association action on the road this week with matchups at Towson on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 28, at 3 p.m., and College of Charleston on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE PHOENIX
Updates on the Phoenix's matches against the Tigers and the Cougars will be provided on Twitter at the handle
@elonscores or the program's handle,
@ElonWSoccer. Watch both matches live on
CAA.TV and you can also follow the action for both matches with live stats.
SERIES HISTORY
The Phoenix has faced both CAA teams a combined 20 times. Elon has faced Charleston on numerous occasions, as both were also former members of the Southern Conference. The maroon and gold has only faced Towson since joining the CAA.
Towson
Thursday's matchup will be just the fourth meeting between Elon and Towson since the Phoenix joined the CAA in 2014. Towson holds the slight 2-1 edge in the all-time series. Elon earned its first win of the series last season on Latin Night at Rudd Field, as
Kendall Ballotti scored the game-winner in the second overtime to give the Pheonix a 2-1 victory over the Tigers on Sept. 23, 2016. After Elon took an early lead, Towson scored in the 90th minute to force overtime, before the Phoenix scored the game winner in the 107th minute.
College of Charleston
Elon and College of Charleston take the pitch on Sunday afternoon as the long time conference rivals will meet for a 18th all-time matchup at Patriots Point. The Cougars have the all-time series lead 9-6-2, but the Phoenix is unbeaten against the Cougars in three of the last four matchups dating back to the 2012 season. Last season's matchup on Oct. 21, 2016, ended as a goalless 0-0 double overtime draw at Patriots Point. Elon last defeated College of Charleston on Oct. 11, 2015, as goals from
Susannah Anderson and
Tori Baliatico led the Phoenix to a 2-0 victory on Rudd Field.
OFFENSIVE FIRE POWER
Elon has scored 24 goals, which is tied for the most in the CAA and ranked tied for 24th nationally in NCAA Division I women's soccer. Offensively, Elon is creating chances leading the league in assists as a team with 21 in 12 matches.
Meredith Christopher is tied for the CAA lead with 14 total points, ranks first in the conference with six assists, and is tied with teammate
Susannah Anderson for third in the league with four goals. The Phoenix got off to a fast start scoring six goals across the first two games of the regular season, which tied for the fifth-most in program history to open a season. It is the most in a two-game span to start a season since Elon scored nine goals in 1993, before anyone on the current roster was born. Elon was also unbeaten on opening weekend for the first time since 2013.
ABOUT ELON
Elon had a five-match unbeaten streak halted on Sunday with a 1-0 loss to James Madison. The Phoenix was able to extend its streak in its CAA opener on Thursday with a 1-1 draw against UNCW. During the five-match unbeaten streak, Elon scored 12 goals, and the streak began with four-straight wins to close out non-conference play. Elon finds itself in a tie for sixth with UNCW, after grabbing one point during the opening week of conference play.
The Phoenix got off to a fast start this season with three wins in its first four games, which included two road wins in Florida to open the season and a home-opening win against Chattanooga on Rudd Field.
Susannah Anderson scored in four straight matches from Aug. 20-31, becoming the first Elon player to do so since Nicole Dennion in 2013. The Phoenix has had 13 different goal scorers this season, which is the second most in a season during the program's Division I era since 1999. Christopher is tied with Anderson for the team lead in goals (4) and has a team-high six assists this season. Additionally,
Tori Baliatico (3),
Carson Jones (3), Ballotti (2),
Sydney Schilling, Reena Wichmann,
Grace Bennett,
Lauren McKeever,
Hannah Doherty,
Laura Mitchell,
Rakel Jonsdottir and
Taylor Paradoski have all scored this season.
Head coach
Chris Neal, the winningest coach in program history, has begun his 10th season with the Phoenix, which returns 19 players from the 2016 campaign. Elon brought 10 newcomers into the fold,
Valentina Estrada, Wichmann,
Hailey Tucker,
Ashley Rumley,
Kara Kimberl, Jones, Christopher,
Olivia Kraebel,
Avery Gardner, and
Caylin Meikrantz.
BALIATICO, WICHMANN AND CHRISTOPHER EARN WEEKLY HONORS
Balitatico earned her first-career CAA weekly honor on Monday, Sept. 18, after scoring three goals for six total points during two road contests at UNC Asheville and Davidson. On Thursday night against the Bulldogs, the Scotch Plains, N.J., native recorded her second career two-goal performance scoring twice in the first half to help the Phoenix earn a 2-1 victory. Baliatico then scored in a 2-0 victory at Davidson on Sunday, scoring in the 54th minute to secure Elon's win.
Freshman midfielder Reena Wichmann was named the CAA Rookie of the Week on Monday, Sept. 11, after scoring her first-career goal and added an assist during Elon's wins against Richmond and High Point. She assisted Elon's opening goal in a 2-1 victory on the road at Richmond and scored in the first 42 seconds against High Point to lead the Phoenix to a 5-1 victory against the Panthers.
Freshman forward
Meredith Christopher was named the CAA Player of the Week on Monday, Aug. 21, after scoring four goals and adding an assist during Elon's 2-0 opening week. Christopher scored her first-career hat trick and the first by an Elon player since Nicole Dennion in 2013. It was also the first season-opening hat trick by a Phoenix since Kate Schabo in 2002. Christopher scored her first three goals in just under 16 minutes to help the Phoenix defeat North Florida, 4-2, on Friday, Aug. 18. The Fort Mill, S.C. native also added a goal and her first-career assist in Elon's 2-1 win against Jacksonville on Sunday. Christopher was also named an Honorable Mention on TopDrawerSoccer.com's Team of the Week.
BALLOTTI AND BENNETT EARN PRESEASON RECOGNITION
Seniors
Kendall Ballotti and
Grace Bennett received Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention honors from the league. Ballotti was a All-CAA First Team selection as a junior in 2016 after scoring three goals and adding one assist for seven total points at the center back position. She also logged a team-high 1,581 minutes and became program's first All-CAA First Team selection. Ballotti anchored a back line that posted three CAA shutouts last season, which ranked second in the league. Bennett earned Preseason All-CAA recognition after starting in all 18 matches she played in last season. Starting in the central midfield, Bennett clocked 1,367 minutes of action, scoring a goal and adding an assist.
BREAKING DOWN TOWSON
The Tigers (3-6-2), gave up a late penalty and fell in a heartbreaker 1-0 against Delawareon Sunday afternoon in its CAA opener at Tiger Soccer Complex. Towson has also lost five of its last six matches coming into week two of CAA play. The Tigers picked up wins in non-conference action against Loyola (Md.), Longwood and Lehigh, and earned draws at UMBC and against Temple. Mackenzie McCaull, Maddie Bove and Sarah Quick lead the team in scoring with two goals each this season. McCaull also has a team-high three assists this season and Bove was a 2017 Preseason All-CAA selection for the Tigers.
SCOUTING CHARLESTON
The Cougars (5-4-0) opened up CAA compeition on Sunday afternoon with a 3-0 loss to reigning CAA Champion Northeastern at Parsons Field. Charleston came into the match on a four-match winning streak to close out non-conference action. College of Charleston will be in Williamsburg on Thursday night to face William & Mary before returning home to face the Phoenix. Prior to conference play, the Cougars built a four-match winning streak with victories over Presbyterian College, Charleston Southern, North Florida and Jacksonville. 2016 All-CAA Third Team honoree Laura Ortega leads the team in points with 10 points with three goals and a team-high four assists. Alyssa Beck is tied with Ortega for the team lead with three goals this season. Charleston has been pretty solid defensively, allowing only 11 goals thus far, the third-least in the CAA this season. Goalkeeper Genevieve Henderson and defender Rio Speller-Drews each have played a big part in the defense's success, as they have each earned CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors this year.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix returns to Rudd Field for week three of conference play. Elon will host William & Mary on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m., followed by reigning CAA Champion Northeastern on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 12 p.m.
--ELON--
